multi-link NMO mounts?

This forum is dedicated to helping people with questions about installing radio equipment in vehicles. This can include antenna installs, electrical wiring questions/problems, and mounting systems. Pictures of installs are welcome.

Note: Discussions regarding lighting, sirens, and other equipment now has its own forum in the 'off-topic' section below.

Moderator: Queue Moderator

Post Reply
User avatar
batdude
Personal aide to Mr. Cook
Posts: 2741
Joined: Thu Oct 04, 2001 4:00 pm

multi-link NMO mounts?

Post by batdude »

doesn't someone make a vehicle NMO mount that uses something other than crappy RG58?

i think it's called multi-link cable... double shielded... nice stuff... i remember the cable is clear ... u can see the other silver shield thru the jacket...

anyone have any of these?



d
User avatar
KG6EAQ
Batboard $upporter
Posts: 1862
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2002 4:00 pm

Post by KG6EAQ »

You can just get the NMO button alone and put whatever cable you can cram on to it be it LMR100 or RG174 or even LMR400 if you wanted, it just depends on the button and the space in your roof.
-Robert F.
KG6EAQ
User avatar
wa2zdy
Posts: 1744
Joined: Mon Jul 01, 2002 9:13 am

Post by wa2zdy »

You Dude,

Not sure this is the answer you're looking for, or even if this is helpful info. But I have a Motorola trunk lip mount on my wife's car. The manual (4 pages) is 68-80360B29-A, dated 1990. It specifies five different trunk lip mounts with RG58, and four with "low loss" cable. The low loss cable part numbers are 01-80355A81 thru 84.

So at least at some point Big M had available what you're asking about.

Maybe this will help, maybe not. Sorry if not.

Good luck,
Chris,
Hamming 31 years
http://www.wa2zdy.com
Wesley Chapel, Pasco County, Florida
Snow? What's that?!
The human race is proof that Darwin was wrong.
User avatar
Tom in D.C.
Posts: 3859
Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2001 4:00 pm
What radios do you own?: Progreso soup can with CRT

NMO mounts and cables...

Post by Tom in D.C. »

Putting new small-diameter cable on an NMO mount is not difficult. It takes good eyes, patience, and some soldering experience, but I've managed the job many times with no problems.

Tom, W2NJS
...in D.C.
User avatar
jim
Posts: 2184
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2001 4:00 pm

Post by jim »

Comtelco MicroLoss cable # MBZL ....with no connector
http://www.comtelco.net
Chris
Posts: 408
Joined: Wed Sep 05, 2001 4:00 pm

Post by Chris »

Cushcraft makes a mount with a low-loss "ultralink" cable. Perhaps that is the name you heard.
Chris
Susan157
Posts: 962
Joined: Fri Apr 19, 2002 5:15 pm

Low Loss cable Cell mounts

Post by Susan157 »

:wink:

We use a cellphone nmo kit and it hasd the
low loss cable with it.
We use it for all radio installs,vhf,uhf,cell
April
Posts: 385
Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2002 4:00 pm

Post by April »

The old Motorola white teflon cable... they call that LOW LOSS??? Not, the shield is poor.
Most runs for VHF the good quality RG58A/U is ok, but when you get up in 470 and 800 or 940 the loss IS a big factor. I have used all the low loss cables over the years, and ultralink, and LMR240 have been the best, but they have solid center conductors that might break in some installations.

Susan has the right idea, but then she is just a girl like me!!!!

ComTelco MicroLoss is a good one if you need it already made up.
Here again the proper tools, the crimper especially, are needed.
User avatar
elkbow
Posts: 1633
Joined: Thu Aug 15, 2002 8:21 pm

Post by elkbow »

Since I have a boatload of LMR-400-DB (and LMR-600-DB), I was thinking of putting on my vehicle installs, just don't think it is worth it for the amount of cable length. Also, the correct length is necessary for ideal tuning purposes. Also, don't think the LMR-400 will fit too nicely under my headliner.
jdebert
Posts: 65
Joined: Fri Feb 21, 2003 11:33 am

Hi grade coax on NMO mount...

Post by jdebert »

Antenex (http://www.antenex.com) has NMO mounts with LMR coax attached.

Some fairly good, though pricey, antennae, too.
jd
User avatar
ExKa|iBuR
Suspended TFN
Posts: 1157
Joined: Thu Jun 06, 2002 8:53 am

Post by ExKa|iBuR »

I know a guy that used RG-213 for all his mobile installs.

Insane, but, aparantly it works amazingly well.


M
Will
Posts: 6823
Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2001 4:00 pm

Post by Will »

213 ??? heck LMR200, same size as RG58A/U works twice as good, half the loss.

ULTRALINK and MicroLoss cable work good also. I perfer the ComTelco mounts.
Yosh
Posts: 162
Joined: Mon Dec 10, 2001 4:00 pm

Post by Yosh »

I used some NMO mounts from Maxrad that had RG-8A/U. Altough it was a bit thicker than the RG-58, I didn't have any problems running it in the headliner. It was great in VHF and UHF. I think I paid around $20 per mount with 15 ft of coax and a mini UHF connector.

-Yosh
User avatar
n_zero_ndp
Posts: 330
Joined: Mon Feb 25, 2002 4:00 pm

Post by n_zero_ndp »

Chris wrote:Cushcraft makes a mount with a low-loss "ultralink" cable. Perhaps that is the name you heard.
We exclusively use this Cushcraft mount here in KC fleetwide (except for FD stuff with the thick roof). Cable has teflon on inner conductor, foil & a major stranded shield. Can be a real pain to install the connector of your choice.

Ken in KC
The EDACS DΩRK......
Richard Collier
Posts: 225
Joined: Wed Jan 30, 2002 4:00 pm

coax change over

Post by Richard Collier »

I run all hi power spectras in my toyota pick up truck and one syntor x9000 all have the A9 head. I unsoder the crap cable and put on a new chunk of rg 142 the teflon cable and it works great. It is small in diameter and holds hi power stuff with ease. Some use it for a short jumper in a repeater install to a antenna or to a duplexer. I use it in my truck and works great.
Post Reply

Return to “Vehicle Radio Installs”